How to be safe in the chat rooms

Chatrooms are a fun place to engage in discussion about a variety of topics. While most people who frequent online chatrooms are good people, there are some who are there to prey on or bully other people. Fortunately, by taking steps to keep your personal information private, being cautious when it comes to interacting with people you meet online, and ending communication with people who threaten you, you’ll be better able to safeguard yourself from predators.

1. Limit information you put on your public profiles. While some predators may ask you for personal information, others may stalk you and look at your public profiles to get information about you. To avoid this, limit the amount of specific information you put on your chatroom or social media profiles. Put only very general information about yourself, such as your general interests or the country you live in.

2. Do not tell people where you live or frequent. Perhaps the most important part of staying safe while in a chatroom is not providing information about your actual physical location. Without this information, people can’t physically harm you. As a result, don’t tell anyone where you live, the places you hang out, or where you go to school or work.

3. Avoid giving out your full name. Instead of using your name, try using a nickname or an alias. This way, you’ll be able to personalize your online presence, but safeguard your personal information and life. Ultimately, people you meet in chatrooms don’t really need to know your real name. Your nickname can be a version of your real name or something your friends and family call you.

4. Do not give your phone number out. While it may seem okay to give someone your phone number, that person can use your number to harass you, stalk you and/or intimidate you. In addition, they could use the telephone to get you to trust them and then manipulate you. As a result, never give out your phone number to people you meet online.

5. Avoid posting photographs. Even if your photographs don’t show street names, license plates, or other information that can be used to identify you, posting them can still open you up to danger. Photographs that show what you (or your friends) look like can give away enough information to encourage unwanted attention. Ultimately, you could attract the attention of a predator or stalker.